Individuals

Howard Chamberlain started drumming in 1937 with the Brandon Boys Pipe Band. He eventually became the Lead drummer of the band and for all of the other of which he was a member.

Drumming had Howard play in most provinces of Canada and many US States, and as far away as Germany and Switzerland.

He taught drumming with the Fraser Pipe Band, the Summer School in Fort San, and numerous Shrine Pipe Band retreats.

In the 1960's Howard along with Angus Spence were chosen from the 10th Field Artillery Regiment Pipe Band to travel to Ottawa to help standardize the Piping and Drumming for Military Bands. Many of those drum beatings are still in use today.

Howard was a machinist by trade, in both Brandon and in Regina. In 1954 he married Margaret and they have 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

As well as being involved in Six Pipe Bands Howard was a strong proponent of the Scottish Community. He is a member of the Sons of Scotland, Regina Scottish Dancers, volunteered at Mosaic, and judged at the Highland Games.

Other than the Wa Wa Shrine and the Masonic Lodge Howard also played the trumpet in the Lions Adult band, and he played the drum for a German Band and was a drummer with the "Riderette drum Corps".

After retiring from the Machine Shop, Howard and Marg spent 15 winters in Yuma.

Duncan Fisher was well-known in Saskatchewan both for his sports and piping excellence, and he died this past weekend, a few weeks past his 90th birthday.

Fisher was born in Regina and grew up in local pipe bands, playing with the Regina Signals, the 10th Field Regiment and latterly the WaWa Shrine Pipes & Drums. Fisher was a keen piper, and acted as tutor, mentor and organizer. He taught young pipers at the Fraser Pipe Band, and many adults as part of the 10th Field and Shrine bands.

He was the pipe major of the Shrine pipe band in Regina for 20 years, and he built the Shrine Pipe Band into the best unit of its kind in North America, winning the Imperial Championship [the North American championship for Shrine pipe bands] on two occasions, and winning the Midwest Championships [Canada and USA] 17 times, including one string of eight years in a row.

During his years with the Shrine, Fisher helped organize the Regina Highland Games, and used his influence in the community to build the event over several of years.

Fisher played a key role bringing together the University of Regina and the City of Regina Pipe Band to create The Conservatory of Performing Arts Pipe Band, which brought City of Regina’s junior pipe band into the Conservatory program.

Although he was not actively playing pipes in the last couple of years, he enjoyed tunes on the chanter until quite recently, and was often in attendance at piping events in the city.

Well-known also for his sports career, Fisher was inducted to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 as a hockey player, having been a player for the New York Rangers, the Boston Bruins, The Detroit Red Wings and the Hershey Bears. He remains the all-time leading scorer for the Hershey Bears. He held the AHL record for most game-winning goals in a season for 50 years until 2004.

On August 9, 2016, at the age of 88 years, George died peacefully at Cottonwoods Care Home, in Kelowna, BC. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Eileen; sons Ian and Dale; and 5 grandchildren.

George was born and raised in Regina, SK, where he married and raised a family. George had a long and distinguished career at the Regina Leader-Post, before settling in Kelowna, for a well-deserved retirement.

George was a member of many business and community groups: the Masonic Lodge, Shriners, sons of Scotland, the Better Business Bureau, and more, but he will best be remembered for his love and passion, the bagpipes. George was a pipe-major, band member, teacher, and mentor to others in the art of piping. For many years George was pipe-major of the Regina 10th Field Regiment Pipe Band. The band had successful tours of the USA and Europe, and even had a record made. He later helped found the Regina Police Pipe Band, as well as being a member of the Shrine Band. He was also a member of the Kelowna Pipe Band. Any opportunity would have him bringing out the pipes, for everyone to hear.

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George loved pipes, piping and bands, and was involved his whole life in pipe bands in Regina, and later Kelowna. He taught at the Regina Boys' Pipe Band (later Fraser Pipe Band) in Regina, taught many new pipers at the Regina Police Servioce Pipe Band in the early days, and he was responsible for organizing many civic functions with pipe bands and massed bands. More to come.

Jim farmed near Belbck, just north of Moose Jaw. He was a fine piper and example who worked quietly for young pipers in Moose Jaw. As a policeman in Edinburgh in the 1890s he had encountered a charming young lady who was taking piping lessons from the famous James Center, Although already a competent piper, Jim decided to follow her example and became a pupil of one of the world's finest piping-teachers. Near the turn of the century they married and came to Canada to take up farming. They often invited young pipers to stay a week or two on their farm for lessons. Taking lessons from Jim was like going to college for us youngsters, and we enjoyed every moment of it. As far as I know, there were no financial charges for our lessons.

Bill was born March 10, 1910 and came as a boy to Canada from Arbroath, Scotland, and lived in Kelvington. He served in The South Saskatchewan Regiment in World War Two, but was transferred to The Cameron Highlanders of Canada after Pipe Major Bill (Willie, Saskatchewan) MacLeod heard him playing the pipes. After the war Bill settled in Moose Jaw and was the main piping instructor for the St. Andrews Society Boys Pipe Band which was started in 1947. An excellent and popular teacher.He died December 27, 1993.

A second brother, Andrew Storrier Shepherd (Dec. 27, 1913 - Feb. 14, 1986) was also a piper, and playing in the St. Andrew's Pipe Band.

William MacDonald was born April 26, 1891 in Rossal, Rogart, Sutherland, Scotland. He attended Balvraid School where he appeared in an 1898 Class photo.

His parents were Neil MacDonald (18?? - 1903 est) a quarrier of Pittentrail, Rogart and Christina Sutherland (1872 - 1950) of Torboll, Dornoch. They were married January 24, 1890 at West Church Manse, Inverness.

Willie MacDonald moved his young family to the Yellowgrass area, and farmed near Weyburn for many years. He was a part of the Weyburn Pipe Band, and his son Bill MacDonald also played the pipes.

Tom Ireland of Sedley, SK died recently, aged 88. Tom was for many years a chanter instructor at the Regina Boys and Girls Pipe Band, later the Fraser Pipe Band, and he was responsible for teaching many excellent pipers over the years.

Tom was born in Kirkudbrightshire, Scotland and immigrated to Canada as a young man in 1950. He worked in various fields including as a farm labourer, RCMP officer, highway traffic officer, as well as at the Saskatchewan Safety Council and SGI.

Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church, 2170 Albert St., Regina, SK.

Although not a musician, Hugh was an organizer par excellence. He was the main organizer and founder of Moose Jaw's Sprigs o' Heather. In the mid 1960s I became obsessed with establishing a piping and drumming school for kids on the prairies after attending the Invermark piping school in New York State and serving as C.O. and chief instructor at the Canadian Army school at Currie Barracks in Calgary. Although I lived in Calgary at that time, Hugh was the first person I discussed this with, and he set to work organizing the first Piping and Drumming School ever held on the prairies, in Moose Jaw at Riverview Collegiate (in 1964? or 65?). Hugh also arranged a meeting with Premier Thatcher where we and Frank Connell of the Moose Jaw Lion's Junior Band convinced him to allow us to establish a Summer School For The Arts at Fort San. Primarily due to the work of Frank and Hugh, next year the summer school was set up to provide instruction in a wide variety of arts—including piping and drumming. Hugh served as the Administrator of Piping and Drumming for the first few years.

Bob Shepherd was born December 17th, 1905. lived in Kelvington and settled in Moose Jaw after the war. He took over The Saint Andrews Boys Pipe Band upon the retirement of his brother, Bill, in the early 1950s. Bob was the original piping instructor for the Sprigs o' Heather Girls Pipe Band formed in the mid-1950s. A popular teacher and also a fine fiddler. He died January 14, 1968.

A second brother, Andrew Storrier Shepherd (Dec. 27, 1913 - Feb. 14, 1986) was also a piper, and playing in the St. Andrew's Pipe Band.

The Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association lost a long-time member and friend on December 2, 2016. Russ McKnight of Moose Jaw was well known in local pipe band circles as a member of the Moose Jaw St. Andrew's Pipe Band, the White Hackle, The Clansmen Pipe Band, and the Clan Scotia Pipe Band. Russ was also responsible for organizing many community events, such as the Moose Jaw Ceilidh Indoor Competition, the Kinsmen Band Festival, the Moose Jaw Highland Games, the Moose Jaw Burns Supper and the Scottish community display at Motif.

Nellie (Forrest) Dunville was the daughter of James Forrest, and she learned to play pipes from her father and others in the Prince Albert Girls Pipe Band. Nellie decided in 1942 to join the Canadian Women's Army Corps, and she and a friend took the train from Prince Albert to Regina to sign up. Sometime after that, the CWAC Pipe Band, led by P-M Liilian Grant, came through Saskatchewan on a cross-Canada tour, and Nellie was convinced to sign up. She played with the band across Canada, until illness took her out of the lineup.

At right, Nellie in her CWAC uniform, and below, the CWAC Pipe Band on parade. Photos from Saskatchewan Folklore Magazine, Fall 2004.

Here is an article written by Nellie for the Fall 2004 editrion of "Saskatchewan Folklore".